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5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Apr. 30, 1912.

J. B. FOUTE.

FRUIT FITTING MACHINE.

APPLIUTION FILED MAY 24,1911. 1 ,024,625. Patented Apr. 30, 1912.

5 BHEETB-SHEET 2.

J. B. FOUTE.

FRUIT FITTING MACHINE.

APPLIUATIUN rILBIn un24,1a11.

Patented A131230, 1912 5 SHEETS-snub.

@www

Patented Apr. 30, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

J. B. FOUTE.

FRUIT PITTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY24,1911.

1,024,625, Patented Apr. 30, 1912.

STTES PATENT OFICE," 10m B. FOUTE, OF

1,024,625. Spearman of Leners ment. Patented Api-.30, 1912.'

, Application mea my 24; isn. Senn n. 629,171

Toamlomimgmmr 4 vide a fruit-piiti machine of improved.. Be it known that 1,; Joux B. Foo-rn, a construction, and v2' ch is eioent in operaresident of Oak Park, in the county of Cook tion and has a large paci and State of Illinois, have invented certain The inYention consists in e seveml novel 5 new and useful Improvements in Fruit-Pitfeatures hereinafter set forth and more por so Machin, of which the following is a. ticularly defined by claims at the conclu-4 f` gli clear, and exact dcription. sion hereof. The prent invention relat .to pitting In the drawings Fi 1 is a vertici machines of the'type employed for pitting longitudinal section -ta on line l-elfrf 10eherri,anddesignsmor eparcnhrlyto 1f'ig.2. Fig.2isaverti ca1 an improved machine, having e tion on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an Inge pascity to' adapt it for use in canend elevation. Fig. 4 is a section taken on m xine 4-4 of Figl. 1. F 5 is 'a detail Another object of the invention is to proof thecno-hea. -to whic the tting kvniv 15 vide a. pitting-machine, having individuel are'secured. .Fig. 6 is a deta planl of 19 dies which can be quickly and conveniently plate for guidingY the fruit-gantering deand separately replaced, as the occasion revs. Fig. is a detail plan of the stripquir. In practice it is c. to empr-plate. Flg. 8 1s a c etaril section of one rubber or elastic dies through which of the spring washers for holding an elastic tothe its and the knives are drivenand dlemthell. Fig.9sadetai1secti175 wh' hold the pol and fruit in the cells. through one of the cells. 10 is a detail Fregnently the dies become. denew of the same.' Fig Il xs ay perspective fdzveorwormandinsomeinstans one oone-oftheelasticdi. Figlsxdzil. dewill weer ont or defective i e elevation ofvone ofthe pitter-kniv. HFigrY '25 others, and hyp individui;- 13 is a section online 13-137 dies which wmrmrdefediv diet-*i0 bis seperately quickly moved, the' latter @my be' 1 mt 1ehwmhng n, separately whmnmmpnsesfg bose 20 and sidesezlj" 8o 'of theinvention isto ro- 22 wing-:h are' rigidi mounted 85 for: :slippljgring,v it A stationary `shell 23 isloe'cured um "femm pmpheryufshenmaisjonmnddm -s f @hinweg @aspri am The meme e 0f :he-desa l A the drum V arerelatively oset'urnshed relatonjto fs' i adaptado-manana hddmdm di tocarry fruit from aper nnj yv which contains the fruit-,in to ik intbedmn. -the'interiorof the so that 'lll eoeentric'l'securedtothenifdrivednft Y 28 `which is driven by im .lgx-landadiustahlepizngignr --119 fm'uil through rhr.- alim h v the lmifv.

end, tn the pan, by an mljnntahlc memlm' e Ill).

tht-ir cntls p ivotnlly t-mlnwtul. :is :xt 311. to lug- 34 im the smtnnmrj' shell 23.

nr range nt thv fruit-pun t" h1- l'niml '-r linnn vlahllt" dit* l?) is runimulnj. llvltl in the imitan: uf the cell by n spring Wushu' 4S' which if nui-ninth' wm'nw, is `-.plit .-u it will readily entzz' :hv ('cll. and is prm'hled with :tml when il i Vnhu'wl in the :sell it is lmwrml. u that thtpnn will htnpl-rntwl :it differs-nl inrinuimb. :u'l'urfling tu the l whirl: tht knirw furuml in a H-nlml ril ll un flume Illy' :thun r-.hifh thc.` pnn swing. tlm throw nf g tln; pun muy lsv chwnfbnl. The :uljltstahlv f minima-turn 1n whn'h thv hule in the rvmnnwtinm tin prmirlv means for varyth!l partit-telnr fruit tu lxupvmtwi un. su :1s

rinliun in the mncltinn nl' llne fruit.

[n pmt-t n1- it has lla-n fmml llmt :nl t' taininy vll-mont :llmt'v llw ulzestir elle wzl." :lpprnxuuatvly jtm largo vnnngh tu pvrmil.

man, in mamy mmnf iluso vlnstii: :lit-f; hill remain olnfnun't-long wrthzu: "thtg mlvuntnm! u maf-hints ir. whit-h :l drum having :a lm'gp; number n.' f-vllg s rlnpluyed.

Munn i4 Whirl: farms" :t sauf nl' Q iwi l'nxan elastic: washer ur liv 45 :in npc-ning 4I; Iriug formed in the lmlimn H. 'm'- nmuding to the diameter nf the kuil tn permit th( pit@` :wel thv lmifil if pas; thun lhnzng'h. The elastic: die fuman-fl 1th :i 47 for a Nrrrgmml- 5' series of xfadl sluis ngly {vikingknife 43, the trlngnb: between' the s its permitting the pit to he shafts 3T :Irv f-nr-h jnnrnaled in an m'entri 1.1mm s gear51onthedrum. Abolt62andaslot 63 in ar'm 61 serve as means for the eoxntric bearing in its adjusted position.

. A cross-headit carries the pitter-knives i 48 and is mounted to' slide vertilly on square posts 66 which have their lower ends 6'( screwfthreaded into'the frame sides 21 and 2). respectively.' Screws 68. serve to lock -the posts against, rotation. This crosshead 1 0 65 1s reciproeafed 'to operate' the pitter kniv through the fruit. in the cells of the drum by pitmm 69 and 70, each of which has itleuapiper end pivotally connected to the crosby a pirot-holtfltl and its lower l endconnected to a wristin 71 on thegears 56 respectirely. To insure accurate positioning andV stop of the drums0 thattheoellsanddlesv inwillheaecu rately positioned to reeve the pilier-knives za'ndthefruit-eenteringderiethecmsshead 65 is provided with pins 74 ach'of whdnhasaloweredtaperedtenniml which is adapted to successively enterholes l'inthedrmnandtolnss ahole 'finthestationaryshellina vanoeof the pitter-knives, su that in the operation of the machine at high the accurate positioningofthellsreativelytothepitter-knives and the centering-devies tfor the 3,fruit, will be insured. A

In'practioe heretofore, it has been uis tomary to form the pitter-lmivts with four ribs or blades, vbut: thgt occ'asiona apit'w not: theenddthcknifeandwouldlnsinhyi llw. space br-lvicen the blades To orennme this diiieolty cach-knife is formed with six ribs nrblnd 78 and -or' slits 4l in the silllila 40 shaped. ly providing this number of blad' on ,each knife, snnll pits will be caught by the knfeand the fruit, and the hingnes between the slits 4'( `in the elastic Adie '45 are still 'of suEcient width and.

resiliency to cause them lo hug the-knife.

'Illa knives 48 are in two .longitudinally extending series, oneyo set *or staggered with resin-t tor-the other, so that the Knives be pLocd in close proximity 5 to each uhexland the cells in the drums" um" mi y arranged, th'e axisof,

fell lleugghtly tangntnl so that the lmir may be operated 4together and in imllel'positfm to erich other. The knives holes 91 in a stationary strip :cr plate 92. 1340 5 are ml thmdgh the washes 4s'. cla1c dl'lando -ldinthedrum and through hol 79 in [tlg stationaryvshell 23, t@ force theiiitslfmmthefruitn the eellsiinto'a 30 in the shell;

n .1 for Y oeil of? hollow dorre lsthe 'lower -ed for this purpose.

knives operate through these centering sleeves and each of the latter is caused-to rt on the fruit with av non-varying prsure, by n weight S3 which is connected to the sleeve 81 by rods &l which pass through u and are guided in cross-l1ead 65 and havet their lower ends secured in the sleeve. These sleeves 81 are slidably mounted in a plate 85 and are provided mth shoulders S6 above said plate to' cause the plates to positivelf' 75 raise the sleeves away from the fruit. The plate 85, which supports and raises the centering;r sleeves is operated by rods Sl' which are slidably held in and extend through cross-head and are provided with abutso ments 88 at their upper ends which limit the movement of plate S5 relatively to the crohead,in one direction. When the crohead 65 is loom-ed= the pitter-kniv, centering-sleer and plate 85 will more in unison a5 until the sleeresare arrested by the fruit in the cells and the weights 83 will then become active to canse the @d months of the sleev to center the fruit in the cells. Plate S5 will he arrested by stops 90 to prevent 9o exa-sire movement ofthe centering-sleeves which mght ;nse thelowerends of these sleevesvto strike 48 in the and 4inure theelastic di by pounding if there shouldbenofruitinoneofthells. The 95 slidineonnecon between rods 87 and the crossd permits the late 89 tio he arrestfruit is present in the bells, sleeves, 81 will be arrested before plate 85 is arrestedstops 90, and the i90 sleeves will be raisedin plate 85 so'they will A" be free to press agaimt the fruit. mechanism. avoids oonict betweenv the thin' slower edge of the sleeves 81 and the waiexs 48, which'would wear or roughen mid edge.' los The sliding connection between plate 851ml the cross-head maks' it pt ible to employ,

short' sleeves. After each pitting o hon the cros-hcad willbe raised,'w|th rawing e the knives from the fruit and willongage 11o stops S8 to positively lift rods 87 andplate 85 rvhe-h will also positively lift the centering'slieresJ This )wt-motion connection between plate 85 aud the cross-hud makes it poible to employ short entering-sleeves, 115 and the stops for the plate prevent exoeve movement of any sleeve .which might enter an unloaded cell.

The eenteringsleeves operate through Each oentering. sleeve is provi with slots 9 3 into which extend ribs 94 on the stripper plates. Resultantly, as the centering-sleeves are withdrwn from the cells in the drum, thc fruit is prevented from adhering to the v12:5 dared mouth of each emtering-slecrcfand is causal to remain inethe oeils. The pitted fruitremaning in the cells of the drum is Y carried around with' the drum and disharged into chute 96 formed in base 20. 13?

- llrlllli :is they sliccesdi'eli' bring"r Tt sometimes ccciirs that the pitted fruit will ..-.heie to the cells, so :in ejector-plate 9T ha\ ing plungersA 9S secured thereto is operated b v stmk, 99 which extend into camgroovtw. 100 ill gral? 56 respectively. Approximately olie-half of each of these camgroovcs is concentric so that the'plllngers 9S will remain tatinary in the rotative steps of the drum. These plimgcrs 98 :irc guided in viaticnari' shell 23 and :ire adapted to extend through holes 4G. ela tic fliesl l5 and spriiigqvasliers 4S to forcibly eject the. pitied fruit from the cells and discharge i'tfrom the drum and enum it im .fall into duct 96.

screw coin-ayer 103 is mounted in cnn- -.'e \'er-t|ihe S0 to discharge the pits through :i .apt-uf 104 which is secured to thc stationarv shell "13 or frame side 22. The shaft 105 of this envoi-'er is jonmalcd in :i bearing 10G in spout it :ind :i bearing 10T at the nppoitc end of tulle and :i guiar-wheel 10S sei-ined to aid shaft and nnsliing with one of the Jean 5l; servis lo continuuily drive the coiivejt'er.

The punition of the improved machine will he axlollnws: Fruit in bulk will be dumped into the pan 21' and shaft will be malimmiixty driven. Eccentric 2 on said .-:liaft', by means of pitmeii 29,' will vibratithc pan and fruit thi-rein to canse itlo he dihtrihlited into :ill of the cells of the are siicnesively brought into position adjacent thc pan. The pan is pivnlcnl ln swing about the axis of the drinn, :ind by adjustment if member 30 :he inclination of the pan ma) lie varied to canse the fruit to lluw more nr lern readily arcorlliii;r tu the condition uf thc fruit. The .stroke of the pau ma also be varied by adjusting the-cl micctiizn between pitmen :nid slots in frame Ill to which the pan is -cccilred, thinadjuntan-nt being -on|etiiiiis desirable for the ame purpose. Sti-leliv-stcp rotary movement willhe imparted to the drum to two seria* of loaded cells into pwitiun beneath the pittcwknives h v gi'zlrx 5S. 3G. slm fis 5i. )llltiulls 5|! alllil gears? 5l mi tinilriim. c During: the ill-eration if the pittcr lri'iivA Iludrimi will he locked in iwsiton h v the iiitcrlfrlaiiig siirfai'es of pinion *.'ll and Lvl-,ir 5l. Dill-ing each stoppage of the ilrlim c inv-head "e5 will he opcintml lv pilnicii 6. :ind T0. lnitisxllyptlie rr,-.-ln-.id, sli-ever: Rl..plale Siand the pittcl-Judah' will lathe .dwf-i engage the fruit in the cells rw 51m-lively. The weights F223 will exert Sumrienl Friseure upon the Sleeresto canse them tn vente? the friiitijl the cell. Plate S5 will be arg1-ated by Jnpel' to prevent any Vleere which might iiter :in` unloaded cell from strikingthe washer 48. After sleevesV have renti-red ille fruit in the oell the }'iitt|rl'ni\i.`.` will be driven lowered ill unison liutil.

through the'fruit to remove the pits and drive them through the elastic dies and openinvs 79 in shell 23, and into duct 80 from wtliich they will be removed conveyer 103 and then dscharfed through spout 104. During the lip-stro e of crosshead 65, the knives will be withdrawn from the fruit., :ind then the sleeves will be operated upwardly -by plate S5 and the lugs 94 on plate will prevent the pitted fruitfrom adhering to the sleeves and knives. The pitted fruit. will remain in the cells until discharged b v gravity, into the chute so as illustrated in F121. 2. Any fruit which .should adhere to the cells will be discharged therefrom b v plunger-s 9S.

he intention is not; to be undemtood as restricted to the details Set forth, since these may be modified by the drilled mcclianic within the scoie of the appended claims without: departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

.Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a pitting machine, of :in elementhaving cells therein, :i series of {litter-knives mounted to operate through .the fruit in the cells, separate elasticdies in the cells, separate washers for holding said dies in the cells 'cach having its inner edge bent to press into its die, mechanism frarotating the element, and mechanism for operating the ives.

In a pitting-machine, the combination of an element havingr a cell therein, a. pitterknife, an elastic die through which the knife openites. a removable Asul'ierposed spring washer in slid cell for holding t-hc die in operative position, and means for opcmting'the lmic' through the die.

3. Iii a pittin, r-ni`m'line. the combination of an element. lian-ing a cell therein, a pitterknife, :in elastic die through which the knife operates, n removable su )erposed split spring washer in mid cell for ho ding: the die in operative position, and means *for opmatiug the lmife through the die. 4. In :i pitting-machine, the combination of an elementhaviiig a series o oells there` in, a separate elastic die ;tor each cell, renioi'a spring washers in the element. for holding the elastic t ies -mcans in the ele ment for separately supporting the dies, pitter-knives. mechanism for rotating the clement. and mechanism for operating `Qaid knives through the cells.

ln a pitting-machine, the combination of :i drllni having,r cells' therein, a fruit pan pivotally sustained to Swing substantially about the asiq about which the drum rothe combination and mechanism for o t. In a pitting-machine, the combination f of a drum having cells therein, a. fruit pan by a screwA tales, mechanism for vibra f aid n trunhe I pa 7 i 15 of the.hoppelg'am-mechnnism for operatngf i cells; a plat n irhicthra-ainl @iees re'slidi i 30 the piller-knives gre Secured, meansVA operpivotam` Sustained lo swing substantially E abputihn' axis about which the drnm-mtaies, rnechnnismfor 'x'bratng said` p:m hczms for varying tllejextent of `vilzvraton T InA a pitting-numbing the ccmbinntinn 1 uf means provided withal cell, an abutlncni for the fruit in the 3L-ll, n flared sleeve 'fon knife, mums fur mns-ing the pinar-knife ifi-remove die :'fs from the h eld lnel twen :said slbexl- 'ufl mill almhneanl= mennen :15 gc-ther, null' meauxV ful-arresting {he} more;

`ment nitlle sleeve?. toward ille alignment-'be .fum the sly'e'eachs' the albulmnt.. Y

AS. In :g pitting-nuncllinc. ille omblntion uf a druxh. hfningjcell therein, abutmgnts 

